Australian drag queen Courtney Act – aka Shane Jenek – reveals how Tom Daley helped his love live
ENGLISH diving sensation Tom Daley is a proud flag bearer for gay athletes around the world, but the multiple world champion has gone the extra mile for a now-infamous Australian drag queen.
Confidential
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DATING isn’t easy at the best of times. But when you’re a drag performer, there’s a whole other level of issues that come with searching for a prospective partner.
Australia’s most famous gender bending performer Shane Jenek — or Courtney Act as we know him when he is a her — has found a change in public perception since winning Celebrity Big Brother in the UK earlier this year.
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“I have always thought that it has been a hindrance,” Jenek told News Corp of finding a partner when known as a drag queen.
“In the wake of (RuPaul’s) Drag Race, drag queens have become popular but still kind of like court jesters. They are the people you want to have fun with, not necessarily the people you want to have sex with. I think that a combination of Celebrity Big Brother showing a third dimension and probably a confidence that I bring with that has really helped.”
Jenek is on the Gold Coast to host and perform at the Sparkle In The Sand gay and lesbian event as part of the cultural festivities running alongside the games. Also performing tonight are Marcia Hines, Beccy Cole, Luke Antony, Alfie Arcuri and Kitty Glitter.
“I used to think that drag was a weakness and I realised ultimately that it is my greatest strength, like being a gay athlete you might think you have to hide because you’ll be othered and you’ll lose your sponsorship or whatever,” he explained. “There comes a tipping point where what makes you unique is actually what makes you important. It is interesting to now see that all of the things I saw as negatives were actually positives. I’d much rather be.”
Jenek recently began dating a guy he met through friends, British diver Tom Daley and his Oscar-winning filmmaker partner Dustin Lance Black.
It is early days and Jenek admitted he is still on various online dating apps.
“He is very tall,” he said. “I met him on New Year’s Eve at Tom Daley and Dustin Lance Black’s house. You never know where romance might find you.”
Of online dating, he said: “I can’t be bothered beating around the bush. I have my face and my name and I say I do drag on my profile. I did turn on Grindr when I was on the beach earlier because there were people and athletes everywhere so I thought I’d see what comes up.”
Jenek, 36, became a household name as Courtney Act after appearing as a contestant in the top 10 on the first season of Australian Idol in 2003.
He has since released several singles, toured the world as a drag performer and also been a strong advocate for gay rights.
“I think right now is the perfect time to be a gay athlete,” Jenek said of the fact homosexuality is illegal in 42 of the 71 countries competing in the Commonwealth Games.
“In capitalistic terms it is actually more valuable right now for a brand to be pro-gay than it is for them to be silent. Commercially it is a good time.”
Looking ahead, Jenek will spend the next few days in Australia before moving permanently to London to live.
“In the UK, people see me for me as opposed to just a colourful two dimensional drag performer,” he said. “I like that and I have noticed there has been a shift in the force career wise and personally since Big Brother.”
Originally published as Australian drag queen Courtney Act – aka Shane Jenek – reveals how Tom Daley helped his love live
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